Patriot 23, Bills 20

 

I can't even remember the last time I posted something about the New England Patriots that wasn't filled with disappointment or tinged with snark. But last night, in a nationally televised game, the Pats won a big game against a tough team, announcing "We're back!" to the whole wide world. 

Drake Maye went 22 for 30 (73.35) for 273 yards in the air and rushed for another dozen. Rhamondre Stevenson, who fumbled the ball away twice in the first half, rushed for only two yards more than Maye but remembered to keep the ball in his hands in the second half and rushed for two TDs. But the stand-out performed of the game was probably wide receiver Stefon Diggs who, although he didn't get any TDs, had 10 receptions for 146 yards, nearly half of Maye's total 273. 

It was an ugly first half, with fumbles, turnovers, and no touchdowns, but ended with the Patriots ahead, 6-3. New England took a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Josh Allen and the Bills came back and tied the game up. 

Then came perhaps the finest drive by New England so far this year. Certainly the most meaningful. Following the game-tying Buffalo FG, TreVeyon Henderson returned the ensuing kickoff for 23 yards and then Maye connected to Diggs for 12 more and to Kayshon Boutte for 19. Stevenson rushed three times during the drive without a fumble or a turnover as New England got the ball to Buffalo's 34 yard line, and then Andy Borregales kicked a 52-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to win the game.

Okay, it won't make the team's highlight reel alongside some of Brady's classic drives, but it looked damn good last night and got New England to 3-2 on the season, one game back from formerly undefeated Buffalo in the AFC East.

When was the last time I felt that good after a Patriots game? 

The next four weeks we play the Saints (1-4), the Titans (1-4), the Browns (1-4), and the Falcons (2-2), so it's not inconceivable that we could improve to 7-2 before facing Tampa Bay (4-1) in November. With the Jets (0-5) and the Dolphins (1-4) in the division, the AFC East actually kind of sucks, and if the Pats can rise to the occasion, beat those pesky little one- and two-win teams, survive Tampa Bay, and win the rematch with the Bills back in Gillette, we're not only in the playoffs, but in there with a good seed.

Expecting too much after one early-season win? Perhaps, but let me enjoy the enthusiasm while I can because, baby, it's been a while!